"So? And much you have forgotten by this time, no doubt," grunted Moranu. "Still, I think I know a place where you can be of use. The control tower. You will need no strength there but that sufficient to push buttons." The control tower! It was with an effort that Gary Lane restrained the cry that surged to his lips. But his eyes leaped to those of the aged doctor, and found there assurance that Kang would well know what to do when he found himself within the control tower. "And the young men?" asked another of the riders. "For the Games, of course," laughed Moranu. "Where else? Tell me, when have you seen before two slaves with such spirit and courage as these showed? It will be worth many an afternoon of boredom to watch these pit themselves against the fanged _goraru_[12] or the two-horned _sneri_[12] in the arena." [Footnote 12: _Goraru_ and _sneri_: wild beasts of Magog. The first is somewhat similar to the extinct "saber-toothed tiger" of Earth, except that it is equipped with a stony carapace; the second is a gigantic lizard with poisonous mobile horns.--_Ed._] "Perhaps," gibed one of the young nobles slyly, "we might even match them against one of the--what were they called?--'Earthmen', when we capture the creatures." And all laughed. Gary wondered what form that laughter would take were these carefree young noblemen to learn the truth about their captees. "And the girls, I suppose, go to--" began still another speaker. Moranu nodded. "Yes, of course." "Too bad," murmured one of the younger noblemen regretfully. "The pale one I could use myself." "The gold fleshed one for me," chuckled another. "That's right," growled Lark between clenched teeth. "Talk it over. One day I'll make you eat each other's tongues." "Who could not?" asked Moranu. "But we can afford to be magnanimous this once, and surrender them to our brother. After his long privations he deserves a little relaxation." * * * * * Thus they came to the gates of the Palace Royal, a city within a city, a citadel within an armed camp, the innermost fortress of fortified Khundru. And it was here their little group was broken up. As they passed within the gates the nobles dismounted, surrendering their beasts to grooms, and Moranu designated the direction to which each slave should be taken. "The old man to the control tower. Tell Vesalu to set him to work. The girls to the baths, then to the seraglio of adornment, then to await our brother's pleasure. The men--Well, for the present quarter them with the palace help. Away with you now." Thus callously were the five members of a family separated. Gary and Lark were placed in the charge of a young lieutenant who led them through a maze of corridors beneath the citadel towards the servants' quarters. As they followed him Gary asked meekly, "Your pardon, sire, but you spoke of 'Erzmun', or creatures of some such name. What are these? Fierce beasts we must meet in the Arena?"